Loose-leaf binder



Oct, H, 1949 B. c. ROEHRL 2,484,742

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed May 22, 1947 F/QHZ 1 15.2

Envenior Patented Oct. 11, 1949 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Bruno C. Roehrl, Erie, Pa., assignor to National Organ- Supply Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 22, 1947, Serial No. 749,794

6 Claims.

This invention is a loose leaf binder having horseshoe spring rings with ends anchored in hinged covers. In a preferred form, the covers are latched in the closed position and are biased open by the spring rings which cushion the end of the opening movement. Further objects and advantages appear in the specification and claims.

In the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2 are top plan views of a loose leaf index in the closed and open positions; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary section showing the position of the covers and of the horseshoe rings in the open position; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the spring rings in the unstressed position.

Referring to the drawing, I and 2 indicate front and back covers having abutting flanges 3 and 4 forming the back of the binder and having the abutting edges connected by hinges 5. The covers have similar peripheral flanges 6 and I at the top and bottom and 8 and 9 at the front so the binder is completely enclosed when the covers are shut. The covers may be molded plastic.

The covers are held shut by a latch III recessed in notches II, I2 in the flanges 8, 9. At each end of the latch are projections I 3 received in complementary recesses I4 in the back cover 2. A spring wire I5 having its ends anchored in the projections I3 and its center hooked over a lug I6 urges the latch upward seating the projection l3 in the recesses I4 and also urges the latch against a detent surface I! on the front cover I. angle at which the spring force is excited is such that the upward force on the latch is the greater force.

In the front cover I is a slot I8 slidably receiving a selector button I9 having a tang 20 fixed in a channel 2I projecting up into and guided in the slot I 8. The channel 2! is integral with a selector 22 underlying the front edges of index cards 23. The front edges of the cards are stepped as indicated at 24 so the cards picked up by the selector and moved with the cover to the open position (Fig. 2) are determined by the position of the selector button I9. The selector is firmly positioned by a spring tongue 25 which rides on the flange 8 and exerts a force holding the chan nel 2| against one side of the slot I8.

The back edges of the cards have holes 26 receiving horseshoe spring rings 21 having free ends 28 compressed toward each other and seated in undercut recesses 29 in the covers. The ends 28 are rolled over to provide detent surfaces keeping the springs in the recesses. In the closed po- The sition (Fig. 3) the springs bias the cover open. When the front cover reaches the half open position, the force exerted by the springs acts along line 30 through the hinges 5. From this point on, the front cover falls to the full open position by gravity resisted by the force of the springs. The resisting force of the springs becomes a maximum in the full open position (Fig. 4) in which the ends of the springs are closer together. By selecting the springs and the location of the recesses 29, the opening movement of the cover can be cushioned so as to avoid objectionable clatter.

The cards are kept away from the free ends of the spring by integral stiffening ribs 3 I.

In use, the selector button is moved to the desired position and the latch I 0 released. The front cover then swings open carrying with it the cards beneath the selector. The other cards remain on the back cover. To remove or replace cards, the spring rings are squeezed and at least one end is lifted clear of the undercut recesses 29. With one or both ends of the spring rings free it is easy to remove or replace cards.

What I claim as new is:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising hinged covers, a horseshoe spring ring having its ends compressed toward each other and anchored in the covers on opposite sides of the hinge and urging the covers to the open position and having its center between the covers in a position to receive a leaf, and a catch releasably holding the covers in the closed position.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising hinged covers, one of which has a back forming portion adjacent the hinge, a horseshoe spring ring having its ends compressed toward each other and anchored in the covers on opposite sides of the hinge and urging the covers to the open position and having its center portion between the covers in a position to receive a leaf, and a catch releasably holding the covers in the closed position.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising covers having abutting flanges forming a back, a hinge connecting the abutting edges of the flanges, and a horseshoe spring ring straddling the hinge and having its ends compressed toward each other and anchored in the covers and having its center portion between the covers in a position to receive a leaf.

4. A loose leaf binder comprising hinged covers, a horseshoe spring ring having its ends compressed toward each other and anchored in the covers on opposite sides of the hinge and urging the covers to the open position and having its center portion between the covers in a position to receive a leaf.

5. A loose leaf binder comprising hinged covers, a horseshoe spring ring having its ends compressed toward each other and anchored in the covers on opposite sides of the hinge and urging the covers from the closed toward the open position and having sits center portion between the covers in a position to receive a leaf, the ends of the spring being closer together in the open position than in an intermediate position whereby the spring cushions the opening movement.

6. A loose leaf binder comprising covers having back and front edges and having along the back edges flanges extending toward *each other in the closed position of the covers, hinge means connecting the adjacent portions of the flanges, and a horseshoe spring having its center portion between the covers in a position to receive aileaf 4 and its ends compressed toward each other and anchored on the covers in front of the hinge means in the closed position of the covers and exerting a force urging the covers toward the open position, the ends of the spring being closer together in the open position than in an intermediate position whereby the spring cushions the opening movement.

BRUNG C. ROEHRL.

REFERENCES CITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 'Trollen Oct. '7, 1941 Number 

